A Project for Life Sciences Students and Physics Students Involving a Cell Phone

Abstract

An increasing number of life science students are taking physics courses in college as more physics-based medical technologies are being implemented in hospitals and clinics. Most of these students are unable to appreciate the connection between physics and their fields when taking a typical physics course. One of the best ways to bridge physics with another area of study is to involve students in a small but exciting research project such as relating the physics of microwaves to biological organisms. A cell phone was used to study the effect of its emitted microwaves on the growth of tomato plants after exposing the seeds to the signal during germination.